Curtain rod.



E. W. VAUGHAN.

CURTAIN ROD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG; 13, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

kfz/messes.

THE MORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHOV. WASHINGTON. TJ. c:4

EDWIN WgViiUGHAN, or woaons'rnn, `ivresse.onusnfius.` f

CURTAIN-Ron;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, `Enwiv W'. VAUGHAN,

y a citizen of the United States, residingat, lfiorcester, in the countyof lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new `and useful Curtain-Rochof which the following is a specification.` l

` This inventionrelates especially "to the manufacture of extensiblemetallic curtain rods of that type composedof a tube having a nut and threadedfrod for entering `said nut, having cushioned disks on the'o.p

posite ends of the rod and tube, but parts oi' the invention can be applied to the manufacture of internally threaded rods for gen-y, eral use.

The principal objects'iof this invention i are to provide a construction of `curtain rods suitable for this purpose, the tubular `member of which is capable of being `formed, ofopen seamed tubing of a comparativelyT thin and inexpensive character; and to promeans for forming the nutpin the tube and holding it securely in position.

i y `Reference is t0 be hadto the accompanyi i next position.

ing drawings in which-1, i

f `a `portion of fthe Figure 1 is a plan o two principal parts of acurtain 'rod constructed in accordancewith this invention ready for the first step in assembling.` Fig. 2 is a similarview showingthe parts inthe tional View of a portion fof. Fig. 3, and Fig.

5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a` modification. i i i, p y

.fisfar as I am aware `the construction of curtain `rods of `thisfgeneral,character` heretofore, although carriedout in several ways, has been of such `a `nature that it is practically necessary `to @employ seamless brass tubing for the tubular member thereof. l

This brass tubing in order to stand the screw threading to which it` is subjected must be of a comparatively" heavy character and is expensive. the other hand,

the i comparatively thin open seamed steel tubing which comes in similar` sizes cannot be provided with `the ordinary 'forms of nuts and screw threads which are used on these articles without considerable expense and serious complicationsd i 1 ,i y

One of they principal objects of this `invention is to provide aufconstruction and Specification of Letters Patenti. i Application sied August 13, isis. serial No. rsliiea` vide a simple,convenient` and expeditious" Fig.3`3 is a similar viewy showing the completed article on a smaller scale. Fig. Il is a longitud1nal,central sec-y l ratentedocae, 1914.`

method of manufacture by which thin Open seamed steel tubing can be used to advantage with asiinple and inexpensiveimethod of manufacture, although some features of.` the invention are capable of use withseami lesstubing, so I do not wish to limit myself in all respects to` the use of open seamed tubing.` For this purpose I provide a nut iusidethe open seamed tubing` for-.receiving thethreaded rod and I make this nut prefel'flbly 0f 011 01 more pieces of metal sep arate from the tubing and heldin position by means which` also securely `holds the edges of the open seam of the tube together.` r i i .i ,i l his `means I arrange 1n such position, with respect to the projections inside the tubing that constitutethe screw thread that it holds the screw thread on both sides thereof so that it is a permanent part `of the tube. `I also form the threads of therod in such a way that when any pressure is applied longitudinally in either direction, these y.

threads of the` rod willftend to force the threadof the nut outwardlyand thuscause them to grip against the interior of the ztube 1 i, more rmly and 'addfto the resistance to the longitudinal pressure.`

` Referring now, in A` the first place, tothe first four figures "of the drawings, itfwill be seen that ont-:fof the principal parts cfg-g the curtain rod consists of a `threaded @rod A provided witha screw thread a on the end. These threads are made round `at`the l t y bottom, that? is, leach one is substantially semi-circular in cross section although any other form of cross sectionwill accomplish the same results, which has a n'iaterially slanting wall on each side ofthe thread. The other main piece `of thejcurtain" rod is inthe form of a tube B made preferably of comparatively thin steel or brass' open seam tubing. `The seamb of this tubing when it is purchased `is very fine as its edges are incontact.

The first step of theoperation of making?"` A the` connection betviieenl-ythe two members A I and 1B according to this embodiment of the invention is totale a coil spring C having an external diameter slightly larger tl'ran I theinterior diameter of the tube and mai f "terially larger than the diameter `of the rod A, but having the same pitch, and thread` `it on the end of the rod as shown inFig While anyconvenient shape of'wire can be used the ideal method is,` to` make a wire to the desired form of thread in order to give of the tube B.

the greatest possible amount of friction against the walls ofthe tube. For that purpose a half round wire is shown. The neXtstep of the operation is to force this rod and spring longitudinally into the end so as to bring the spring well into vthe body thereof. On account lof the fact that the spring is just slightly too large toenter the tube 'B without spreading it, the forcing of the spring in this way spreads the seam of the tube. The seam is then closed by a pair of smooth faced dies, not shown. The forcing of the edges of the tube together with tube B from the end at which the spring enters, up to the point where the spring is left. It will be seen that when this band comes over the portion of the tube in which.

the `spring is located it will permanently close up the seam at that point and force the .tube still more iirmly against the spring,

'which is still held securely in position on` the rod. ln this way two results are' secured, the spring is permanently united to the interior of the tube so that it cannot be moved longitudinally and so that it consti- Atutes a nut, and the openseamed tube is closed permanently so'that jit cannot be spread apart by any ordinary usage. In order still more thoroughly to perfect this `operation and to finish the article more perfectly, the two ends of the band or ferrule which, of course extend beyond the twol {endsofy the nut, are rolled, die pressed, or Iotherwise reduced circumferentially so as to unite `the ferrule or band firmly to the tube andA reduce the tube ust beyond the ends of the nut rand-.still more firmly-hold the nut in position against longitudinal motion.

A D urin-g'all this period the screw is in posi- 1 tion so that the nut cannot get out of place g Awhile these operations are being performed.. It has been found in practice that the nut is practically free from the screw threads during all of these operations, and the screw can be withdrawn without resistance from o itev The-,threaded rod is then withdrawn and the tube is ready for any polishing and other finishing operations to which it may be' desired to subject it. The parts are then assembled, either the same rod, or if the `rod is a permanent part of the machine, orconstitutes a templet, a duplicate A beingappliedto the interior threaded tube. In accordance with the usual custom, these two parts are provided with rubber disks E rllhis is forced in to the desired distance beyond the end of the tube at their ends in any of the ordinary ways and a spring F is provided in either one o1l both ends as desired.

the ferrule tothe outside of the tube in this y case has an effect similar to that described in connection with the vrother figures, in that it eectively forces `the inner surfaces of the tube againstfthe ends of the pin and holds the pin lirmly in the `seat formed by the slot'. In this case asin the other, the nut, that is the pin, comes .about at the center of the ferrule and the ferrule preferably is reduced at the ends. it will be observed-that the threads of the screw as has ybeen stated, are shown as rounded at the bottom and substantially semi-circular in cross section. This not only furnishes a shallow bottom so'that the threads of the nut cannot become wedged into the1n lbut it also furnishes.

slanting walls tothe vthreads on both sides. Asthe threads of the nut are materially smaller than the threads of the rod it will be obviousthat lthe exertion of any force tending' to push the rod into the tube or to pull it .out will cause the threads ofthe nut to ride up on the threads of the rod, and thus force the former outwardly against the walls of the tube and cause'them to bind on the tubestill more firmly.l Thus, when the `only force that is likely to be applied that would tend to dislodge the nut is eX erted, its first effect is to make the nut stiloonger and more firmly anchored in the tu e. Y

Although l have illustrated and described only two forms :of the invention and described them both as applied to a particular hind of tube, i am aware of the fact that other modifications: can be madetherein and that the invention can be applied to other kinds Vof tubes without departing from the scope of the inventionv as expressed in the claims, therefore, l do not wish to be limited in these respects or to all the details of construction shown, but f lVhat I doclaim is l. As an article or' manufacture, an eX- tensible curtain rod comprising a tube, a screw threaded rod adapted to enter said tube, said vtube having a screw thread on the inside thereof ata distance from the end and adapted to lengage thethreads of said rod, and a fixed separate lmetallic band surrounding said tube outside said'thread ata l distance from the end of the tube.

t t y 1,112,950

` `2. As an article of finanufacture, an eX- tensible curtain rod comprising an open` seamtubc, a screw threadedrod adapted to enter said` tube,a member on the inside of said tube at a distancel from its end consti- `tuting a thread adapted, to engage `the threads of said rod, and a seamless metallic bandsurrounding said tube, fixed thereto, extending beyond said thread member in both directions andholdingitin condition.A

metal tube, a screw threaded rod adapted to enter said tube, said tube having on the inside thereof at a distance from its end, a thread member adaptedffto engage the threads of said rod, and `a i metallic band surrounding said tube outside said thread member and extending beyond the same 1in both directions longitudinally, saidband grippingthe tube on both sides of said member and holding it firmly against expansion and holding the thread member.

.4r As an article of manufacture, an extensible curtain rod comprising a tube, av screw threaded rod adapted to enter said tube, a coiled spring member fixed to the inside of the tube having anormal external diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the tube and adapted to engage` the threads of said threaded rod, and a metallic band surrounding `said tube, said v band at both ends gripping the tube at points on opposite ends of said coiled spring` member to hold the tubeiand member securely together. v, y

5r As an article of manufacture, an `extensible curtain rod comprising a tube, a screw threaded rod adapted to enter said tuba said tube having on the inside thereof a wire adapted to engage the threads of said rod, anda seamless metallic bandsurrounding said tube and extending beyond said member longitudinally in both directions and reduced in` diameter at its ends to cause it to grip said tube firmly at opposite sides of said wire. .a

6. As an artielefof manufacture, an extensible curtain rod comprising a tube, a screw threaded rod adapted to enter sai tube, said tube having fined on the insi t `thereo-f a member adapted to engage the t) LD threads of said threaded rod, and a seamless metallic band surrounding said tube, said tube having an open `seam along the side thereofand said band gripping the tube to hold the edges o-f the seam `togfrether and secure the member in `position inside the same. y ,i

`7. As an article of manufacture, a curtain rod comprising a thin sheetmetal open seam tube `having a coiled spring inserted therein at a distance from the endfthereof, and se` curely held in position, anda screw threaded rodadapted to enter the tube and fit1 said coiled spring, whereby the `spring actsas a nut for the rod.` 1 y i V Sr As an article of manufacture,a curtain rod comprising athin sheet metal `open seam tube having `a coiled spring inserted` therein `at a distance from the end thereof, and a screw threaded rod adapted to enter` `the tube and fit said coiled spring, whereby "the `spring acts as a nut for the rod.

9. As an, article toftmanufacture, an eX- tensible `curtain rod comprising `a tube having i an open seam `throughout the length thereof and provided with a separate thread inside the same, and having a seamless tubular band surrounding it at thelpoint where said thread is located,`and a threadedfrod adapted to enter the end of said tube andi"` having a screw thread ittingltheinternal thread whereby the latter constitutes a nut for said threaded rod.

l0. As an article of manufacturefan `eX- l `tensible curtain rod comprising a "sheet metaltube having an open seamand provided with a separate thread inside fthe;

same, and having a band surrounding-it at` the point where said thread is located, said` band `fitting the exterior of said tube tightly),

so as to draw up the open edges ofthe saine" and secure them firmly together, andfa i threaded rod adapted `to enter the end "of said tube and having a screw thread fit` tingthe thread inside the tube.

1l. As an article of manufacture, an eX- tensible curtain rod comprising a tube hav-` ing an open seam `and provided with a coilv inside the sameand constituting a nut, and haviiig a band surrounding it at the point where said coil islocated, said band being contracted at its ends so as to grip the ex-` terior of the tube tightly on opposite sides of said coil whereby the edges of the tubular portion are clamped togetherand the tube reduced in diameter at pointsadjacent to the ends of said coil forholding the coil i securely in position in the tube. v

`lf2.' As an article of manufacture,an eX- tension curtain rod comprising `a sheet metal` tube having anopen seam and provided;

with a separate thread inside the same, and

`having a band surrounding itat the point where said thread is located, and a .threaded rod adapted to enter the end of said tube and having a screw thread tting the thread whereby said spring constitutes a nut for said threaded rod, said screwthreaded rod being provided `with `rounded bottomed threads slanting on both sides. y.

'lfAs an` article of manufacture, `an eX- tensible] curtain rod comprising a; tube hav` ing on the inside thereof Ya wire yheld `inposition therein. and a threaded ro-dwprovided with shallow threads having i their edges slanted in opposite directions whereby isos in case of the application of longitudinal l application of longitudinal pressure the pressure .the eect of said threads will be eiiect of said threads will be to force the to force the wire outwardly. wire outwardly; y

c 14. As an article of manufacture, an eX- In testimony whereof I yhave hereunto 5 tensible curtain rod comprising a tube havset my hand, in the presence of' two suol5v ing 0n the inside thereof a half round wire scribing Witnesses.`

held in position therein with the convexv EDl/VIN W. VAUGHAN. side in, and a threaded rod provided with Witnesses: shallow threads having their edges slanted ALBERT E. FAY,

1,0 in opposite directions whereby in case of the C. FRREST VVESSON.v

Copies of this patent may be obtained foi' ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. l 

